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Fired BP Contractor Claims Photo Flap Led To Dismissal

A former BP contractor said Friday evening he was dismissed after taking photos that he believes were related to the use of dispersants and to the cleanup of the oil floating in the Gulf of Mexico.

Adam Dillon worked as a liaison on Grand Isle early this summer. He later moved to a position at the BP Command Center near Houma.

In June, Dillon was there when security teams rebuffed WDSU anchor Scott Walker as he tried to speak with workers on a public beach.

But Friday, while driving home to North Carolina, Dillon contacted Walker and said he wanted to talk about his experience.

Dillon said he decided to talk because of what he saw happening in the cleanup effort and because of the way his role in that effort came to an end.

"When you met me (in June), and you were straight with me and I saw the way that you were being treated, I told you I wished I could tell you more," Dillon said in a satellite interview. "And after the way BP treated me, I'm telling you now that you deserve an answer, and that's why you're getting an answer."

Dillon said shortly after the beach run-in, he was promoted to the command center at the BP training facility. He claims he was fired several weeks later because of a series of photographs he took.

"I saw something when I was out there," he said. "I took pictures of something and I brought it to the attention of the command structure and whatever I took pictures of, 12 hours later I was gone."

Dillon believes the photos showed how dispersants were being used in the Gulf of Mexico.

Though quick to criticize those in charge and the way some aspects of the operation have been handled, Dillon also told Walker that the majority of workers who are on the job are doing all they can to undo the damage to our shores.

"I worked with some really great people. There are some really great, hard-working individuals in there," he said.

But Dillon, a former U.S. Army Special Operations soldier, has lost faith in the company in charge.

"I will never have loyalty to this company," he said. "I will always have loyalty to my country. And my country comes first.

"What this company is doing to this country right now is just wrong."

WDSU tried to discuss Dillon's claims with BP but was unable to reach anyone who could comment on the matter Friday night.

Dillon spoke at length about other issues and personal encounters while working on Grand Isle and at the Command Center. Walker's reports on his experience continue Monday at 10 p.m. on WDSU.

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